The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information regarding the two wildfires that recently occurred in southern New Mexico. These devastating fires resulted in the loss of two lives, forced thousands to evacuate, and burned over 24,000 acres of land.
The FBI is specifically looking for information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for starting these fires near the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. The agency is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the cause of these destructive blazes.
The South Fork and Salt fires ignited on June 17 amidst extremely hot weather conditions and continue to burn as of Sunday evening. Efforts to contain the fires have been complicated by the combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and heavy rainfall in the area. These wildfires are currently affecting the Mescalero Apache tribal area, U.S. Forest Service land, and regions surrounding Ruidoso.
The larger of the two wildfires, the South Fork fire, has already consumed more than 17,000 acres and is only 31 percent contained. On the other hand, the Salt fire has burned over 7,000 acres of tribal land in rugged mountainous terrain and is just 7 percent contained.
Tragically, two individuals lost their lives in these fires, with one victim discovered near a motel with severe burns and the other found in a burned vehicle on a road in or near Ruidoso. Additionally, a significant number of structures, approximately 1,400, have been destroyed, and around 8,000 residents were forced to evacuate from Ruidoso and its neighboring areas.
Ruidoso authorities have announced that full-time residents will be allowed to return starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, with the lifting of evacuation orders. However, some homes may still lack basic utilities like gas, water, and electricity, and the air quality in the area may be compromised due to smoke and ash. Residents are advised to bring a sufficient supply of groceries and water to sustain themselves for at least a week.
Certain areas will remain restricted as they are being treated as crime scenes and are currently undergoing recovery operations. The village of Ruidoso is working diligently to restore normalcy to the affected areas and support its residents during this challenging time.
The FBI, along with other federal and state agencies, is actively involved in investigating the cause of these wildfires and bringing those responsible to justice. If you have any information that could assist in this investigation, please come forward and help prevent further devastation to our community.